Poweshiek Water Association’s Dysart water tower pictured on July 4, 2023. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Editor’s note: The following notice was released last week by the Poweshiek Water Association.

Since August 1, 2024, when we [Poweshiek Water Association] lifted the mandatory conservation order, we have kept you updated via our website, Facebook page, letters, and Quench magazine. As you know, the three wells that were scheduled to be installed by June 1, 2024, were not completed, and the contract with the company doing the work was terminated. These wells, along with three others for the Tama Wellfields, were rebid, and drilling is now scheduled to begin in July 2025, with completion expected by October 2025.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature has not been kind since August, providing very little moisture. Although we did treatments in November to help ease the plugging and raise flows, they did not restore full capacity. Ideally, we aim to produce 100% with a few wells shut off. We have well treatments scheduled for the beginning of April, and are considering additional treatments in July.

Currently, we are well below the 100% mark. As previously communicated in October, and reiterated in subsequent reminders, spraying will not be possible this year under current conditions. We have not yet issued a water conservation ordinance this winter due to low water usage, but with spring approaching and usage expected to rise, we will be re- establishing the mandatory conservation order beginning March 1, 2025.

The ordinance will be lifted once we experience sufficient rainfall and/or the completion of some wells. Had we received more rain after August and sufficient snow to melt into the soil this spring, we would not need to re-establish the ordinance. Last year, from April through August, everyone did an excellent job of protecting our system. We now need your help one more time to get through this issue. We all must do our part and together we can make it happen.

MANDATORY WATER CONSERVATION ORDER

To view the full Water Conservation Policy, go to www.poweshiekwater.com.

A. Outdoor watering and irrigation is prohibited, except as follows:

Watering or irrigation of flower and vegetable gardens, trees, and shrubs less than 4-years old, and new seeding or sod are permitted once a week with an application not to exceed 1-inch. Watering shall only be done between the hours of 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

B. Car washing is prohibited, except at commercial establishments that provide that service.

C. No water shall be used to fill private swimming pools, children’s wading pools, reflecting pools or any other outdoor pool or pond.

D. No water shall be used to wash streets, parking lots, driveways, sidewalks or building exteriors.

E. No water shall be used for nonessential cleaning of commercial and industrial equipment, machinery, and interior spaces.

F. Water shall be served at restaurants only upon the request of the customer. G. Rural Water cannot be utilized for Agricultural Spraying.

Under these conditions the use of private wells, if available, is highly encouraged for livestock, outside and Ag use, and your home if the water is safe for human consumption.

Priority of usage if additional measures are needed will be:

Human Consumption

Livestock consumption

Ag use for spraying

The best place to find current updates to PWA’s drought situation, conservation measures, updates on projects and other news please follow us on Facebook and check out our website, www.poweshiekwater.com.

Cities in the PWA System that utilize PWA as their source water from Tama and Amana include Barnes City, Brooklyn, Buckingham, Chelsea, Clutier, Conroy, Dinsdale, Deep River, Dysart, Elberon, Gibson, Guernsey, Hartwick, Irving, Luzerne, Malcom, Millersburg, Parnell, Searsboro, Thornburg, and Vining.

*All area cities not listed have their own water source, are served by our Cedar Rapids source, or are served by another rural system.